Marking tools ??
 

I would like some input as to what is your favourite tool pen/chalk/pencil or whatever, for marking designs on your quilt that you can then follow the pattern & sew. I have been using the chalk markers from Connecting Threads & the white is fine but the yellow & blue leave marks behind on my quilts that is hard to remove. Any & all ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Crayola Ultra Clean fine tip markers (Wal-Mart or Target) for everything except the darkest colors. The white or pale pink Crayola Ultra Clean crayons for black or navy. Both easily come out in the wash. The crayons I usually can get out just by rubbing with a damp piece of batting.

I took a longarming class from Jamie Wallen. He said he doesn't understand why people keep coming up with new marking tools when there are perfect ones already available. He uses Bohin white chalk markers on dark colors and blue Mark B Gone pens (or similar brand) on whites. He says never ever use a Frixion pen because the marks can come back with changes in temperature or pressure. On the other hand, I took a class from another instructor the next day and she uses Frixion pens.

I use white chalk or soap on darks and a purple air vanishing pen on whites/lights. In both cases, I wait until just before I'm ready to quilt a section to mark it rather than marking the whole quilt at once. I've had the vanishing purple marks go away in as little as a couple of hours when it's particularly humid. The chalk will rub off and need to be re-done if you mark too far ahead. The soap stays put better than the chalk for anything that will not be quilted immediately, but I wouldn't expect to mark a quilt using any of these methods and then plan on leaving it unquilted for more than a couple of hours maybe a day at most.

Rob

It depend on the fabric you are marking. For crosshatching, I like the Hera marker sold on JAF. If it is dark fabric, I use WHITE powder chalk (NEVER color chalk). If it is a light color fabric, I use either the blue be gone or the purple be gone depending on how quickly I will get to quilting it.

I should add that most of the marking is do is for placement if I'm using rulers to FMQ, or to help me remember where I am on a larger quilt if I'm doing non-ruler FMQ. It's rare for me to mark a design to actually stitch along, though I have done it on occasion.
Rob

chalk pencil the most - clover and sewline, markers- clover sometime, frixion and pounce-rare

Recently attended a Ricky Tims Super Seminar with Alex Anderson, she said the same thing - don't ever, ever use it, it's NOT designed for quilting. I'm thankful I never got sucked into that hype.

I have used all the above at sometime. I like white chalk liner of any kind. If on white I use the fade away of any make just before I quilt in small sections as I've had it fade away while still sewing.

I use the white Bohin pencil on dark fabrics and a plain old #2 lead mechanical pencil for light fabrics. Have not had an issue with either coming out in the wash. Sometimes the #2 lead if I mark heavily on a white fabric but any of those are usually covered up by the stitching.

My most used marking tools are #4 artist's pencils bought at Jo-Ann's and I get the Quilter's Choice white/grey chalk pencils for darker fabrics. If I need a really fine line, I may use a mechanical pencil; however the mechanical pencil is often not easy to use on fabrics unless you have the softer leads in it. All the above comes out easily in the wash!

I have a white chalk clover chaco-liner that I love. It's pretty old and works perfectly-I refill it with cornstarch. I also have a hera marker for light colored fabrics, or I'll use some painter's tape.

i use either Rose Art or Crayola washable markers. they wash out and hold a line to quilt along.

Crayola fine tipped washable markers for me. I love these for marking my quilting.

Bohin white chalk on darker fabrics and the double (blue/purple) marker for other projects. I have used frixion pens when marking squares for HSTs but I end up cutting at the line so I'm not concerned about how much is left on my fabrics as they are beyond the sewn seam.

What she said and if I can get them on sale, before school starts, the better!!

Marking pens are always a mystery tome. Thanks for the information. I have used several of these, but always glad to learn more.

I also love my Clover chaco-liner Gale. I never thought of using cornstarch to refill it. Thanks for the tip!

I LOVE my air erasable purple pens by Sewline. A dark line stays 12 hrs a light line is gone in a few. No sign of it at all.

I've done this too and just use a makeup brush or small paint brush to brush the marks out.

I love my Sewline marker and can always find a color that works with whatever needs marking.

I use Bohin pencil on dark fabrics. I really like the fine point and the lines disappear with a little friction and for the most part are under the stitching.
For lighter fabrics I like either the blue water erasable pens or the purple air erasable pens. With the purple air erasable you have to work quite quickly as the marks do disappear but I've never found it necessary to mark more than I could get done in that length of time.
As for Frixion pens I use them in my sewing room to write notes. I like the fact that if I accidentally get a mark on the fabric I know that I can get it out.
I wash all my quilts so any residue left by any of the markers is taken out in the wash. I believe that Frixion comes out in the wash and will not come back by cold temperatures. If you apply to heat to Frixion mark it will come back with cold temperatures. I have had some shadows left on fabric when I tested the Frixion pens, especially with the red pen or red fabric. Almost like it bleached the fabric. For the blue water erasable markers they will come out with a spritz of water but some may come back when the fabric dries. To really get them out washing is preferable.